Using MathLink for Excel makes life easy in this case.
<< Excel`
SomeMatrix=ReadExcel["SomeFile.xls","SomeSheet","A11:Q26"]
will read the range A11:Q26. Of course variable can be used in stead of
literals.
One drawback is that the excel file must be closed to have the link
reading it.
Depending on what you need using Transpose[ReadExcel[......]] must be
used.
Hope it helps,
Janwillem